Refrigerating system



oct. 21, 1941. w. T. DOWNS 2,259,950

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 12,l 19511-V 2 sheets-sheet 1 Illu )BY/W M 'ATTOEK Patented Oct. 2l, |941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFgFll-:vn' William T. Downs, Detroit, Mich.

. Application November 12, 1931, Serial No. 174,145

v 14 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a cooling mechanism which may be used for cooling currents of air passed over, through or around ythe mechanismand the i vention is admirably adapted for useas an air cooler for automobiles and similar vehicles having a closed body in which the passengers sit and having in connection with the closed body an internal combustion engine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling mechanism of this class which ""'will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable; highly emcient in use, easily and quickly installed and requiring a minimum of disturbance to the usualy apparatus of an internal combustion engine in its installation and operation.

\Another object of theinvention is the provision of a cooling mechanism oi' this class which may be operated in connection with an internal combustion engine without requiring any additional material for its operation other than the fuel used for operating the engine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cooling mechanism of this class in which the suction naturally produced by the engine during its operation is utilized for rarefying and vaporizing the V'combustible liquid resulting in a lowering of its temperature so that the cooled liquid may be utilized as ya cooling agent.

Another object of the invention is the provi-v sion of a method of cooling air consisting in subjecting a high volatile liquid ina container to a rarefying action and whi1e\in said rarefied state bringing into contact therewith, air,`,hu midifying the air with said -liquidand while the liquid is in a lowered state of temperature, directing a blast of air to be cooled in proximity to and into contact with said container for pur-v poses of cooling the air.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method of and an.apparatusn for cooling a current of air whereby a container is placed in` the path of the current of air to be .cooled and a vaporizable :Huid conducted into the container and a partial'vacuum maintained in the con-Q .a mumcation with the intake:n

reference to the accompanying drawingsy which form a partpof this speciilcation, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side, elevational. view oi.' the inventionillustrating its mounting.

Fig. 2vis a side elevational View of the invention considerably enlarged over the structure shown in Fig. 1. with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary. sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. A

The invention is, as illustrated in Fig. 1, adapted for luse with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine provided with an intake manifold I5 communicating with which is a carburetorl involving an air cleaner and inlet chamber I6 and a iioat chamber I1 connected in communication with the manifold I5 through the adaptor I8. Leading into the iloat chamber I1 is the fuel delivery pipe I 9 through which the fuel is directed by the pump 28 which is connected by the pipe 5I to the fuel tank 2|. 'l

In the construction of automobiles, the internal combustion engine is generallyplaced beneathv a hood 22 rearwardly of which is a cowl in which is formed an opening 23 closed by the swingable closure 24. A drip pan 25 is positioned beneath the opening 23 ,for the purposes of catching'rain whichmight pass through the opening 23.` This opening 23 communicates with the interior of the vehicle body 21 rearwardlyof the dash 26.,

Mounted on the inner face of the dash 26 isa f bracket 28 which serves to support a cooling-reservoir 30 which is formed of the multiple air and water tube type similar to the type which is used in-vehicleradiators such as the honey-l comb type` andthe fin and tube type radiators. Communicating with this reservoir 38 at the top is an upper chamber 32 and communicating with the bottom thereof is a lower chamber'3I. i This honey-comb reservoir is positioned `Within anembracing frame 28 to which the bracket l29 is attached. Mounted in communication Iwith the upper chamber 32 and projecting`` upwardly vtherefrom is an'inverted bell-shaped 'housing 35 1 4pipe 38 communicatingthrought the check valve 39 with the pipe 4|! which is connected through an opening formed in the adapter I8 in communication with the intake-l manifold vrI5. 1A'- valve# 40 is. interposed in the vpipeilll,sonthat this commanifold may bef' housing t 35 and opened and closed at willd 'I'he construction is such that when the internal combustion engine is set intooperation, a suction will be set up through the pipe 40 communicating with the pipe 38 and a.V partial vacuum developed in the container or reservoir 35. This pipe 35 is in communication with a T-fitting 48 positioned in the housingv 35. Connected to the pipe 43 and in communication therewith is a pipe 4| which communicateswith the bellows 42 projecting outwardly from the lower end of which is a valveforming stem 44 adapted'i'or engaging in and closing the opening 45 formed in the upper end of the housing 35. A U-shaped bracket 43 serves to support this bellows 42-in position. This construction is such that when the engine is operating and the suction is .established through the pipe 45 and itsconnections with the interior Y of the, housing 35, a vacuum will also be established inthe bellows 42. If the vacuum is increased suiliciently, the bellows 42 will be drawn into collapsed position so as to raise the valveforming stem 44 out of the opening 45 and thus permit entry of air into the interior of the housing 35.; This opening 45 communicates with the nterior of a vapor housing 45 mounted in the communicating therewith through the opening 41. Projecting upwardly from the-T-fltting 49 is a pipe 45 which extendsl into and opens interiorly of the vapor housing 46. The end of the T-tting 49 is provided with.

a reduced portion to form the slit-like opening |iwhich communicates with the interior of the housing 35. I

' Interposed in the fuel delivery pipe 5| is a valve 52, which may be manually opened and closed.

Communicating with the pipe 5|, between the tank 2| and the valve 52, is a delivery pipe 53 in which is interposed the manually operable valve 56. This pipe 53 communicates through the valve and fitting 54 with the float chamber 55 in which is mounted a float 55 tov control the opening and closing ofthe valve 54. `An outlet pipe 51 communicates with the ijioat chamber 55 through the bottom thereof. 'I'his pipe 51 leads into and ter'- minates in the lower reservoir chamber 3 I. A pipe 53 communicating with the float chamber 55 extends upwardly `and communicates with the pipe 59 which opens atv its inner end'into the interior of the upper chamber 32. Thus, the float chamber is connected both to the ton and the bottom of the honey-comb reservoir or container.

Projecting outwardly from the bottom of the lower chamber 3| is a nipple 5| to which is connected the outlet pipe 52. This pipe 52 leads through lthe manually operable valve 54 and the check valve 53 to theA pipe 5| at theiopposite'side of the valve 52.

'Ihe construction is such that when the internal combustion engine is set into operation the fuel delivery pump will be operated and the liquidv fuel will be `delivered from the tank 2| housing 35 any solid liquid material so that a vaporized fuel alone is thus conducted into the intake manifold. l

A pipe 1| communicates at its lower end with the lower chamber 3| and at its upper end through the manually operable valve 12 with the atmosphere so that when the vacuum is estab-4 lished in the housing 35 air will be drawn into the honey-combfcontainer at the bottom and pass upwardly through the liquid fuel container in this reservoir, thus, aerating the fuel vapor and at the same time humidifying the air led into the liquid fuel. The valve 12 is present to regulate the amount of air which is permitted to pass through the pipe 1|. In this manner, the desirable mixture of fuel and air for combustion purposes will be delivered through the pipe 40 to the intake manifold I5. When the vacuum in'thP housing 35 reaches afpredetermined degree, the bellows 42 will be collapsed and the valve-forming stem 44 will be lifted to uncover the opening 45 and allow additional air to be bled into the shielding housing 455 When the vacuum is established, the liquid fuel container within the honey-comb reservoir is rarefied and it is well known that leading off the vapors through a vacuum process will effect a lowering of the temperature of the liquid. Experience has shown that by leading air into the liquid and humidifying this air with the liquid, a further lowering of the temperature of the liquid is effected. Experience has also shown that when the additional air is bled in an additional lowering of the temperature is accomplished and very suddenly. 'I'his is possibly due to the sudden y expansion of the air bled into the vacuum and to `the sudden further humidifying of the air-soeled in. When the stem 44 raises oil of the opening 45 to permit air to enter the housing 35, the entry of the additional air will, of course, relieve the partial vacuum and when the vacuum has been lowered to the predetermined amount, the valve stem 44 will again move onto its seat to close the opening 45. Experience has shown that the liquid, in the ordinary operation of an internal cc. .-'Vfustion engine, may belowered below ltemperature of fifty degrees Fahrenheit.

It will be noted that the reservoir 30 or the honey-combed container serves as a vacuum tank or chamber and it is beneved obvious that this i chamber, when 4 placed at the proper elevation relatively to the carburetor, would permit the feeding of the fuel from the bottom thereof to the carburetor so ,that the pump 23 might be dispensed with. It will also be noted that this rese ervoir or honey-combed container 33 serves as an 'expansion chamber in which the combustible fluid is rareed and the resultant cooling of the through the pipe 53 into the oat chamber 55,

the valves 55 and 54 being opened and the valveV 52 being closed. From the float chamber the liquid fuel will pass through the pipe 51 into the honey-comb container. At the same -time, the fuelvapors will be drawn oi! in response to the suction of the engine through the pipes 33, 31,

35, check valve 35 and pipe 45 to pass into the intake manifold I5. The suction of the engine to'm'aintain .this withdrawal of the fuel vapors. The pipe 43 has been extended into the shielding housing 43 in order to prevent drawing out of the will-establish a partial vacuum/in the housing 35 iluiddue to the rareflcation is taken advantage of for the purposes of cooling the current of ai. It, therefore, is obvious that the fluid used for combustible purposes passes through this expan-` sion chamber and the cooling resultingfrom the sudden expansion or rareilcation of the fluid is eil'ected at a location relatively -to the current of air as to obtain a maximum efficiency in cooling eHects. It will also be noted that the partial vacuum maintained in this expansion chamber or reservoirl 3l is effected from the-suction resulting from the reciprocations of the pistons of' the engine. f 'I'he word fluid is used in some of thevcliiims rm lis' more comprehensive than the word liquid and it is believed obvious that the v Passage if1 the -fuel through the reservoir 35 and tained in the reservoir fused with liquid fuel from atile: materials will be, drawn o thepipe while be removed through the pipe 62.

container, the air being container f r cooling subjecting the same to a rareilcation in the reservoir would result in a cooling of the material delivered whether the fuel were delivered to the reservoir in a liquid' or a gaseous state. Particularly is this so where a partial vacuum is main- 30, permitting or eiecting a rapid expansion or rareflcation of the fluid dellveied.- I

Mounted on the bracket 291s an electric motor 68 winch is suitably connected to a source of electricalf supply and provided with the necessary control switches and the like. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 59 of the motor B8 ifs a blade fan 10 arranged to blow the air which enters through the opening 'i3/through the air passages formed in the reservoir or container 30 ina manner simllar to the blowing of the air through the water radiator of an automobile. In this manner the air is cooled and directed toward the interior of the body 21 in a cooled condition. There is thus provided a means for economically and effectively maintaining the air in the interior of the body 21 in a cooled condition. It is to be noted that no other material is necessary Vfor operating this'cooling mechanismz other than the liquid' fuel ordinarily used in operating the internal combustion engine. It will also be noted'that this fuel is not wasted or consumed in any manner in the cooling operation. but is directed in its entirety to the intake manifold It.

The float chamber l1 is connected by a vent pipe to the interior of the air chamber I6 so as to prevent an air lock in the fuel line. l

When itis not desired to use the cooling system, even when it is connected in position, the valves 40', 64 and 66 may be manually closed andthe valve 52 opened.; The check valve 39is to prevent any lighted gases passing through the pipe 38 into'the housing 35. The'check valve $3 prevents the back pressure from operating directly on the liquid in the container SII.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a pipe 66 `leading from the pipe Sfand in which is positioned a manually operable valve 61. If desired, the pipe 85 may be connected to a tank other' than thev gasoline tank 2| such as a tank like. When the pipe 65 is so connected to a source of highv volatile liquid in the operation of the device, the valve 61 would be openedas would likewise the valve 52; and the valves 64 and would be closed. i

In view of this disclosure it is, therefore, believed that I have provided a simple `and effective method of cooling a current of air through the conducting of a vaporizable uid into a container in which a partial vacuum purposes of rarefying the fluid and lowering the temperature thereof. l,

It is believed obvious that the device, when y the tankl. is operated al continuous operation of the device in an efficient manner would be effected. The high volof course, vaporized and theheavier tails would It is believed obvious that instead of the honeycombed type of container used a coil might be used for the Vsame purposes` as the honey-comb directed against and through the coils. Consequently, the phrase honey-comb container is considered to mean a type of container whereby the proper circulation of air around or through the purposes may be effected.

I have illustrated and described the pre- .is maintained for the f ferred form of construction I do not wish to limit myself to the .precise details of structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variations and moditlcations as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In combination with a vehicle having a body, an engine, an intake manifold, and a. fuel tank for the reception of liquid fuel to be delivered to said intake manifold: a container; means for conducting fuel from said tank to said container; means for conducting fuel from adjacent the bottom of said container; a conduit communicating with said container adacent the top thereof and communicating with said intake manifold for exhausting fuel vapors from said container: means for conducting air into said container adjacent the bottom thereof; and additionalmeans for bleeding air into said Icontainer upon the development of a predetermined vacuum in said container.

2. In combination with a vehicle having a body,- an engine intake manifold, 'and a fuel tank for the reception of liquid fuel to be delivered to said intake manifold: a container; means for conducting fuel from said tank to said container;

' means for conducting fuel froniadiacent the bottom of said container; a conduit communicating with said container adjacent the top thereof and communicating with said intake manifold for exhausting fuel vapors from said container; means for conducting air into said container adjacent the `bottom thereof; additional means for bleeding air into said container upon the development of a predetermined vacuum in said container; and

means for regulating the level of liquid fuelin i means for conducting said container. y

3. In combination with a vehicle having a body, anengine kintake manifold, and a fueltank for the reception of liquid fuel to be delivered to said intake manifold: a container; means for conducting fuel from said tank to said container;

ltom of said container; a conduit communicating containing alcohol or the with said container adjacent the'top thereof and communicating with said intake manifold for exhausting for conducting air into said container adjacent the bottom thereof; additional means for bleeding air into said container upon the development A of a predetermined vacuum in said container;

means for regulatingi'the level of liquid fuel in said container; and means for directing a current of air into the proximity of said container for cooling saidcurrent of air.

4. In' combination with an internal combustion englneran apparatus for cooling a current` of air comprising a container mounted in the path of the air reception of a vaporizable liquid; a conduit for l establishing communication between the 'upper part' of said container and said engine for exhausting vapors from said container and lowering the temperature of the liquid in said container; means for bleeding air into said container below the liquid level during the exhausting operation. means for delivering liquid into saidvcontainer, means for controlling the liquid level in said container; and means for bleeding air into the upper part of said container upon the developing of a predetermined vacuum in said container.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine: an apparatus for cooling a current of air comprising a container mounted in the path of theair to becooled and adapted for recepfuel from adjacent the botfuel vapors from said container; means to be cooled and adapted for ducting liquid from adjacent the bottom of said container.

6. In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a manifold, an'd a container for supplying combustible fluid thereinto, an apparatus for cooling a current of air,

comprising: a vessel positioned in the path of the air to be cooled and interposed between said engine and thesource of fuel supply and adapted for the reception of the combustible iluid delivered to said engine prior to the delivery4 of the same to said engine; means for connecting said vessel in communication with the source of fuel supply; means for connecting said vessel in communication with the manifold of the engine for maintaining a partial vacuum in said vessel for eecting a vaporizing and cooling of the` iiuid passing therethrough; relief means for opening said vessel to communicate with the atmosphere upon the developing of a predetermined vacuum in said vessel; and means for directing a current of air into the proximity of said vessel for cooling the same.

7. In combination with a vehicle having an lnternalcombustion engine, a manifold, and a container for supplying combustible uid thereinto, an apparatus for cooling a current of air, comprising: a vessel positioned in the path of the air to be cooled and interposed between said engine and the source of fuel supply and adapted for the reception of the combustible fluid delivered to said engine prior to the delivery of the same to said' engine; means for connecting said vessel in communication with the source\of fuel supply; means for connecting said vessel in conimunication with the manifold of the engine for maintaining a partial vacuum in said vessel for effecting a vaporizing and cooling of the fluid passing therethrough; relief means for opening said vessel to communicate with the atmosphere upon the developing of a predetermined vacuum in said vessel; means for directing a current of air,

into the proximity of said vessel for cooling the same; and means for conducting liquid from adjacent the bottom of said vessel.

8. In combination with a vehicle having an e internal combustion engine, a carburetor, an intake manifold and a source of liquid fuel supply, and means for delivering fuel from said source of fuel supply to said carburetor: a container adapted for the reception of fuel delivered from said source of fuel supply; means for connecting said container to said source of fuel supply; means for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in said container for maintalning'a chamber in said container above the liquid therein; means forl communicating said chamber with the intake manifold between said carburetor and said intake manifold for maintaining a partial vacuum in said container and effecting an evaporation of the fuel in said container; and means for directing a current of'air into the proximity of said container for cooling the same.

ber in said container above the liquid therein;

means for communicating said chamber with the intake manifold between said carburetor and said intake manifold for maintaining a partial vacuum in said container and effecting an evapoy ration of the fuel in said container;'means for directing a current of air into the proximity of said container for cooling the same; and means for conducting liquids from thebottom of said container.|

10. In( combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a carburetor, an intake manifold and a source of liquid fuel supply, and means for delivering fuel from said source of fuel supply to said carburetor: a container adapted for the reception of fuel delivered from said source of fuel supply; meansV for connecting said container to said source of fuel Supply; means for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in said container for maintaining a chamber in said container above the liquid therein; means for communicating said chamber with the intake manifold between said carburetor and said intake manifold for maintaining a partial vacuum in said container and effecting an evaporation of the fuel in said container; means for directing a current of air into the proximity of said container for cooling the same; means for conducting liquids from the bottom of said container; and relief means adapted for establishing communication between said chamber and the atmosphere upon the developing of a predetermined vacuum insaid chamber. i

11. In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a carburetor, an intake manifold and a source of liquid fuel supply, and means for delivering fuel from said source of fuel supply to said carburetor: a container adapted for the reception of fuel delivered from said source o1' fuel supply; means for connecting said container to said source of fuel supply; means for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in said container for maintaining a chamber in said container-.above the liquid therein; means for communicating said chamber wit-h the intake manifold between said carburetor and said intake manifold for maintaining a partial vacuum in said container and effecting an evaporation of -the fuel in said container; means for directing a current of air into the proximity of said container for cooling the same; means for conducting liquids from the bottom of said container; and means for bleeding air into the reception of combustible uid delivered to said engine prior to the delivery of the same to the engine; means for connecting said vessel in communication with the source of iuel supply; means :or connecting said fold oi' the engine for maintaining a partial vacuum in said vessel for effecting an evaporation oi the fuel passing thereinto; a conduit communicating with the atmosphere exterior of said hood for conducting air vinto said vesw; and means for directing a current of air to be cooled into the proximity o! said vessel for cooling the same.

13. In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, 'a carburetor, an in.

take manifold and a source of liquid fuel supply.

with the intake maniand means for delivering fuel from said source of fuel supply to said carburetor: a container adapted for the reception of fuel delivered from said source of fuel supply; means for connecting said container to said source of fuel supply; ms for communicating saidcontainer with the intake manifold for maintaining a partial vacuum in said container and eecting an evaporation oi the fuel inv said container; means for directing a current of air into the proximity ot said container for cooling the same; and means for conducting liquids from the bottom of said container to said carburetor.

14. .A cooling system for an automobile oomprising a container for liquid; a liquid supply means including means for maintaining a predetermined quantity of liquid in the container; a heat exchanger including a plurality of conduits, said heat exchanger being arranged adjacent said container; upper and lower headers communicating with each other through said conduits; a conduit connecting and' laiorciing communication between the lowerl header and the container below the normal liquid level in the latter; communication between the upper header and the container above the normal level of the liquid in the latter; a fan for forcing air to be cooled over said heat exchanger; means for maintaining a vacuum above the normal liquid level in said container and said heatexctianger;l and a valve controlled air tube communicating with the atmosphere at one end and with the lower header of the heat exchanger at the other; whereby evaporation in the heat exchanger may be promoted and the air forced across the heat ex changermay be cooled.

WILLIAM T. DOWNS.

a second conduit connecting and affording v 

